CADMORE END.

A building you are likely to miss if you drive too fast down this road. Restored in the last couple of years, it is a small country pub with a friendly atmosphere set in the Hambledon Valley. You enter down steps which makes it no good for disabled visitors unfortunately. You enter into a lobby area with the toilets to your right and the bar to the left. The bar is an 'L' shape of dark wood that has tall stools at it for locals to sit at. The main hand pumps are rather strangely situation down the far end of the bar. However, these serve no purpose as the beer is still fetched from the cellar downstairs by hand! Every drink asked for was brought up with a brim measure - how the landlord did it without spilling any I'll never know. This free house has a great atmosphere and you feel one of the family very soon after you get there. The beers on at the time were Butts Traditional Bitter, West Berkshire Full Circle, and Young's Bitter. All were well kept and served. Prices were to be expected this far south and close to London. Food is served most times but not Sunday evening nor Monday lunchtime. Choices are traditional pub food and are wholesome. For the summer there is a large garden and the winter a large real fire. There is a no smoking area, but the main bar area can get smoky as it has low ceilings and little ventilation. Done out in traditional pub village style, it has a shove halfpenney board. Well worth a stop on your way to Heathrow.